Our Services

James Burks, Jr., MD

Co-Director, Center for Wound Healing

Dr. Burks is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American
Board of Vascular Surgery and specializes in vascular and endovascular surgery.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Carnegie-Mellon University,
he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the School of Medicine at
New York University, where he was elected into Alpha Omega Alpha, a national
honor society for medical students. His general surgical training and
chief residency were completed at the Columbia University School of Medicine
and Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Dr. Burks completed
his vascular and endovascular fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center
in New York.

He has been in practice for more than a decade and has held many leadership
roles, such as Chief of Vascular Surgery and Chairman of the Peripheral
Vascular Interventions Credentials Committee at South Miami Hospital.
He has published numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals. He
also holds an MBA from the University of Miami.

Ihab Aziz, MD

Dr. Aziz is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, and holds
his own private practice in the San Fernando Valley as a vascular and
endovascular surgeon.

He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the School of Medicine at
the Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. He completed a vascular and
endovascular surgery fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance,
Calif. Dr. Aziz also completed multiple general surgery residencies throughout
his academic career, including a general surgery residency at the LAC+USC
Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Aziz has been published in numerous research papers and peer reviewed
journals. In addition, he is actively involved in several cardiac vasculature
graft and stent research projects as a co-principal investigator. Dr.
Aziz has been a member of organizations on the American College of Surgeons
and the International Society for Endovascular Specialists, and is currently
a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery.

Sammy Eghbalieh, MD

Sammy Eghbalieh, MD specializes in vascular, endovascular, and minimally
invasive vascular surgery. He has been a member of Valley Presbyterian
Hospital's Medical Staff since 2015.

Dr. Eghbalieh received his Bachelors degree from UCLA, graduating summa
cum laude and ranked in the top 1 percent of his class, being awarded
Bruin Senior of the Year. He received his medical degree from the UCLA
David Geffen School of Medicine. He completed general surgery training
at Yale University School of Medicine Affiliate Hospitals - Saint Mary's,
conducting numerous academic research investigations for publication.
His research contributions have received awards and been recognized regionally
and nationally. Following general surgery training, Dr. Eghbalieh completed
fellowship in Vascular, Endovascular and Minimally Invasive Vascular Surgery
at the prestigious Vascular Group at Albany Medical Center, New York,
where he performed complex vascular and limb-salvage procedures.

Dr. Eghbalieh is a member of multiple medical staff committees and now
serves at the Representative for Southern California Vascular Focus Group.
He currently serves as the president of the Southern California Vascular Group.

Zhen S. Huang, MD

Zhen Huang, MD specializes in vascular surgery. He has been a member of
Valley Presbyterian Hospital's Medical Staff since August 2015.

Dr. Huang received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine
and completed his residency in General Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr.
Huang completed his fellowship in Vascular Surgery at New York Presbyterian
Hospital (Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University) in New
York, New York.

Dr. Huang is an active member in several associations including American
College of Surgeons, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, and Society
for Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Huang has had many publications, and national and regional presentations.
His most recent publication, in 2015, is titled, “Endovascular Interventions for Tibial Artery Occlusive Disease in Patients
with Critical Limb Ischemia.” He has also conducted various research projects at Harvard Medical
School, Tufts University School of Medicine, Weil Cornell Medical College,
Cornell University, and The Rockefeller University. Aside from his publications
and research experiences, Dr. Huang has been an instructor as well at
the following institutions, Weill Cornell Medical College, Columbia University
Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and Cornell University.

Richard J. Sarte, DPM, FACFAS

Richard Sarte, DPM, FACFAS specializes in podiatry and is board-certified
by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board
of Podiatric Medicine. He has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s
Medical Staff since February 2011.

Dr. Sarte earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from California
College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California. He completed
his podiatric medicine and podiatric surgery residencies at the Southern
California Podiatric Medical Center. He is a fellow at the American College
of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a diplomate of both the American Board
of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine.

Dr. Sarte is a member of the Academy of Physicians in Wound Healing (APWH).
He joined APWH as a Fellows-Certified and has a certification in wound
care (FAPWHc).

Dr. Sarte was a former assistant Clinical Professor at Los Angeles County/USC
Medical Center/CCPM Southern Campus. He participated in the training of
podiatric medical students and residents.

Syamak Yamini, DPM

Syamak Yamini, DPM, specializes in Podiatry. He is board-certified by the
American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He has been a member of the
Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff since March 2016.

Dr. Yamini earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the California
School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College. He completed his
podiatric medicine and surgery residency at Olive View – UCLA Medical
Center in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Yamini is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, California
Podiatric Medical Association, Los Angeles Podiatric Medical Society and
a fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is also
an attending physician at the VA Greater Los Angeles.

Samuel Kashani, MD

Samuel Kashani, MD is board-certified in general surgery by the American
Board of Surgery with expertise in pressure ulcer management and the use
of alternative tissues to cover wounds. He has specialties in both robotic
surgery and undersea abd hyperbaric oxygen therapy and medicine. Dr. Kashani
has been a member of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff
since February 2009.

He received his medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago,
Illinois, and completed his residency at UCSF – East Bay Surgery
Program in Oakland, California. Dr. Kashani completed his fellowship in
minimally invasive, advanced laparoscopic, and bariatric surgery from
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Dr. Kashani is an active member of various societies including American
Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal
and Endoscopic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons and American Medical
Association.

Dr. Kashani devotes his time to mentoring students and residents as an
assistant clinical professor of podiatric medicine and surgery at the
Western University of Health Sciences, and as an assistant clinical professor
at the UCLA School of Nursing.

Besides his medical practices in the United States, Dr. Kashani has devoted
his time and skills to free medical missions internationally and supports
the art community by establishing and sponsoring a non-profit art gallery
in the Los Angeles area.

Aaron Shelub, MD

Aaron Shelub, MD specializes in infectious disease. He has been a member
of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Medical Staff since November 2008.
He is a diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine in the
subspecialties of internal medicine and infectious disease.

Upon completing his bachelor’s degree in Biology at UC Santa Cruz,
Dr. Shelub moved to Tel Aviv, Israel, to earn his medical degree before
returning to California and settling in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Shelub
performed his residency in internal medicine at hospitals in Long Beach
and Torrance, followed by a two-year fellowship in infectious disease
at the University of California, Los Angeles combined campus program.
He also conducted cutting-edge research into bacterial infections at Harbor-UCLA
Medical Center and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

Over the years, Dr. Shelub has spoken at numerous regional medical facilities
on such topics as Legionnaires’ disease; aspergillus sternal wound
infections, osteomyelitis, coccidioidomycosis, paucibacillary tuberculosis,
and other diseases and infections. In addition, Dr. Shelub serves as an
Infectious Disease Physician in the Military, as well as participates
in infection control, medical education, and antimicrobial stewardship
committees at major hospitals throughout the San Fernando Valley region.
Dr. Shelub also participates in conferences and continuing professional
development through membership in several medical societies, including
the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Infectious Disease
Association of California.